Grace M. (Schell) Winne - Veterans Legacy Project

Their Story

GRACE M. WINNE

Grace M. Schell was born on December 12, 1921, in Moline, Illinois, the daughter of Helmer and Anna Norell Schell.^[1] Helmer died on July 23, 1934, when Grace was 12, and Anna died on November 19, 1953.

Grace Schell married Harry R. Winne in Maquoketa, Iowa, on June 7, 1940. They had two daughters, Stephanie and Sheila; and one son, Stephen. Harry served in the U.S. Navy as a motor machinist’s mate (third class) on duty in the South Pacific during World War II.^[2]

Winne enlisted in the U.S. Navy WAVES on July 26, 1945, at a time when the Navy announced a special need for more WAVES by the end of 1945. She did her boot training at Hunter College in New York, New York.^[3] Petty Officer Second Class Winne was honorably discharged at the separation center at Great Lakes Training Center in North Chicago on January 2, 1946.^[4]

WAVES (Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service) was established as the United States Navy’s corps of female members on July 30, 1942.^[5]They were assigned to work as administrative office workers, link trainer instructors, aviation machinist mates, aerographer’s (a warrant officer in the U.S. Navy whose duties include the observation of weather and the preparation of weather and surf forecasts)^[6], and hospital corps workers.^[7] At least one-third of the WAVES were assigned to naval aviation duties. At the end of World War II there were over 100,000 women serving in the WAVES.^[8]

After leaving the service, Grace worked for 22 years at Phillips Furniture and Appliance in Moline as a bookkeeper and secretary. Harry was employed as an inspector at International Harvester Works in East Moline for 31 years. Grace retired in 1984 and Harry in 1980. Winne was a member of the Salem Lutheran Church in Moline and the Moline American Legion Post 246.^[9]

Grace M. Winne died on April 21, 1991, in Moline, Illinois. She was survived by her husband Harry; daughters, Stephanie S. Morrison, and Sheila A. Schutte; a son, Stephen P. Winne; five grandchildren; and a sister Helen Cosner.^[10]

Harry R. Winne was born July 25, 1920, in Huntley, Ill., the son of Harry and Anna Schwartz Winne.
He was employed as an inspector at International Harvester Works, East Moline, for 31 years, retiring May 1980.
He was a member of VFW Velie Post 2153, Voiture 40 & 8 and Friends Circle Club, Moline.
Harry was also a World War II Navy veteran. He served as a MACHINIST’S MATE PETTY OFFICER 3RD CLASS MM3 in the US Navy during World War II.
He enjoyed the Chicago Cubs and Bears.

Harry and Grace are buried together in Plot R-12, Rock Island National Cemetery.